Kalikho Pul Asks for Cultural Exchanges Between Assam and Arunachal

In an effort to strengthen peace-building efforts between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has urged for further cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two neighbouring states.

Speaking at the programme organised by Tai Ahom Yuba Parishad in Guwahati, the chief minister expressed his intention to give renewed thrust on efforts to promote cultural interaction and strengthen friendship between the people of the two states, ‘Our existence in this eternal world is only temporary,’ he added.

This earth has existed much before we came and will remain so after we leave it.

As a part of peace-building exercise, he said development efforts along the inter-state boundaries would resume side-by-side with encouragement for people-to-people interactions.

He revealed that efforts would be on to mobilise all the ethnic organisations from the two states to build a common platform in the form of ‘committees’, ‘These committees will work on organizing games and sports, literary events and cultural and language exchange programmes’.

On development efforts, the chief minister revealed that the state government would build schools, hospitals, police stations and other service institutions close to the Assam borders, which would serve people from both the state.

The chief minister disclosed that the statues of legendary Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika would be erected on major entry points along the Assam-Arunachal boundary to celebrate the centuries of cultural bonding between the two states.

‘Hazarika has made great cultural contribution not only to the world but also to Arunachal Pradesh,’ Pul stated.

He added that he would visit all-important places in Assam-Arunachal boundary to get firsthand information on the ground situation and to monitor the progress of his initiative.